Boot-treeing machine.



"w. H. HOOPER. BOOT TREEING MACHINE. APPLIUATIOH FILED JULYZ, 1906.RENEWED II'EIB. 19, 1910. 957,9 4, Patented m 17, 1910.

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PatentedMay 17,1910.

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WILLIAM H. HOOPER, OF SWAMPSCO'FT, vMASSACHU..-.-IET".LS, ASSIGNOB, BYMESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, T0 THOMAS Gr. PLANT, 0F B0$TO1\T, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT-TREEING- MACHINE.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Hoornn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essexand State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Boot-Treeing Machines, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to a boot and shoe treeing machine having one ormore expansible boot trees, said trees being movably mounted to permitthem to be brought into working position relative to the operative asmay be desired.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of suitable andnovel means for expanding each tree and to permit the expanded tree tobe moved without substantial change in its alinemcnt into a lowerposition while bringing another into an. ele vated position, thereby topresent one tree and its shoe to the operative for work thereon or formanipulating the shoe carrier, thereby contradistinguished from swingingsaid tree in a horizontal plane as heretofore generally practiced.

My invention also contemplates a novel construction of boot tree, alsoof a boot tree foot, provided with a separable fore part and sole whichpreferably are separated by the expansion of the tree, thereby to expandthe foot or toe of a shoe in a direction from top to bottom thereof orperpendicularly to the sole face.

I furthermore provide for a gradual contraction of the expanded tree,thereby preventing distortion or wrinkling of the dressed surface of ashoe or boot mounted thereon and avoiding injurious effects upon thetree or its mechanism, incident to a sudden collapse or recovery of thetree parts as in previous machines. This result may be convenientlyattained by means of a retarding device, preferably a dash pot connectedwith the expanding devices of the tree and adapted to control themovements thereof as desired. All of the above, however, with otherfeatures and objects of my invention, will be best understood andappreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings ofa machine selected for the purpose of illustration and embodying oneform of my invention, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1906, Serial No. 324,314.

Patented May 17, 1910. Renewed February 19, 1910. Serial No. 544,898.

scope of the latter being more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of the right side ofa machine selected as illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig.2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section takenfrom the rear on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4: to 7 are enlargedvertical and longitudinal sections, taken through the axis of the'tree,to show the successive movements of its parts in expanding a shoe; Figs.8 to 10 are details to be referred to, illustratingthe construction ofthe fore part, footpiece and sole expanding mechanism; Fig. 11 is aperspective of the lower slide member, to show the adjusting slideplates mounted thereon; Fig. 12, a vertical trans verse section on line12-12 of Fig. 4; F 13, a plan view of a detail showing the front end ofthe lower slide member and the movable plate, 84, carried thereby; Fig.14 a section on the line l-l of Fig. 1; Fig. 15 is an enlarged plan andpartial section of a detail showing the front end of the expander barand the sole expanding member carried thereby; Fig. 16 is a verticalsectional detail to be referred to taken on the line 16-16, Fig. 7, toshow the arrangement of guide-way 123 in which the controlling member,84, is arranged to slide; and Fig. 17, a plan of a detail to show thecurved rear edge of the cam plate, 40.

lVhile any suitable means may be employed for supporting the variousparts of the machine, that herein shown (see Figs. 1 and 2) comprises acolumn, 1, having a head, 2, upon which the actuating devices forexpanding the trees are arranged.

In the machine shown the boot trees are carried by a rotary frame, 3,comprising a hub, 4e, and arms, 5, extending radially in oppositedirections therefrom, said hub, 4, being journaled upon a horizontalpivot stud 6, projecting from the foot of the column and suitablyretained with a boss, 7, of said column. The outer ends of said arm, 5(Fig. 3), are each provided with a split tubular bearing, 9, for thejournal or barrel, 10 (Figs. 1 to 4) of a boot tree. Each of saidbearings is provided with a friction bolt, 11, and a barrel retainingscrew, 12,the latter extending inwardly into a circumferential groove,13, (Fig. 4), of the tree barrel, andbeing held in adjusted position bya lock nut, 15, so that longitudinal displacement of the tree isprevented, while permitting the tree to be rotated to present anydesired portion of the surface of a boot or shoe mounted thereon intosuch convenient treeing position as may be desired by the operative. Tofacilitate rotating the trees in their bearings each is provided with asuitable hand wheel, 14 (Fig. 3).

By the pivotal arrangement of the tree carrying frame, herein shown, theboot tree may be rotated to bring either tree into its upper position inwhich it may be expanded V and contracted, said arms, 5, being normallymaintained in vertical position by a horizontal locking pin, 16 (Fig.4-), socketed into the front of said head, 2. This pin has a rounded orcam end, 1?, adapted to slide into a socket or recess, 18, formed at theback of each arm as the latter reaches its 'upper'vertical position, acoil spring, 19, interposed between the rear end of said pin and thebottom of the socket, 20, in which the pin is mounted, normally actingto project the pin forward into locking position. A stop, 21, on. thepin, 16, is provided to 'limit the spring actuated movement, the'rounded end of the pin causing the latter to slide rearwardly when theframe is forcibly rotated, yet furnishing a suflieient stop for theframe at the end of a semirotation when a new tree is brought intoposition.

A plurality of arms and trees are employed, two being shown in thepresent instance, though obviously any number could be employed, topermit a boot or shoe to be mounted upon the upper tree expanded, treedor dressed and then turned out of position to dry, while the operativeapplies a boot to the other tree brought into its upper position or mayremove one already in place thereon, and after applying a fresh boot orshoe, the expanding and treeing operation is repeated; this arrangementavoiding the loss of time incident to the use of different machines.

Heretofore in treeing machines employing a plurality of trees it hasbeen customary to swing the same horizontally from side to side, butthis arrangement requires so much space in which to swing the treesfirst to one and then to the opposite side of the machine, that a greatwaste of floor space results together with an unnecessary effort on thepart of the operative in swinging the trees. It has also been attemptedto provide boot treeing machines with radially mounted boot treesarranged to swing like the spokes of a wheel, both horizontally andvertically, but such arrangements also are obviously objectionable. Allthese objections are avoided by the arrangements shown, whereby aminimum floor space is covered and whereby also the tree may be broughtinto position by slight physical effort expended to the best advantageby the operative.

Each tree is adapted to be expanded by suitable mechanism mounted uponthe head of the column. In the present instance this mechanism comprisesa horizontal plunger, 22, slidably mounted in a barrel, 23 (see Figs. 1and 4%), formed in a block or plate, 24, secured as by screws, 25 (Fig.3), to the head of the column. The rod or stem, 26, of this plunger(Fig. 1 slides freely through a guide bearing, 2(, formed at the rearend of said barrel and is connected by a chain or strap, 28, with theperiphery of a short drum or disk, 29, mounted on a. horizontal shaft,30, suitably journaled in lugs, 31 (Fig. 141-), formed upon and at therear of said. head, 2. Rotation of this shaft is herein effected bymeans of a grooved pulley or wheel, 32, fast upon the outer or right endof said shaft (Figs. 1 and 14;) and having a chain or belt, 33, securedat one end in said groove and extending therein over the top of thepulley with its opposite end connected to the upper end of a link orrod, 3 1, secured at its lower end to a treadle, 35. This treadle isnormally held elevated by a coil spring, 36, connecting said treadlewith a lug on said column, the tread end of said treadle extendingforward into a convenient position to be actuated by the operativesfoot. By depressing the treadle, the downward movement of said link, 34,unwinds the chain on said pulley, 32, cansing the latter and its shaftand the drum, 29, to rotate to the right, viewing F ig. 1.. to wind thechain, 28, upon its drum and withdraw or move said plunger, 22,rearwardly to expand the tree. For retracting or moving the plunger intoits forward position theplunger is surrounded by a coil spring, 37(Figs. 1 and 4-), interposed between the plunger and the rear end of thebarrel, 23. That the boot tree expanding devices may be actuated by saidplunger, the head of the latter is provided with a fin, 38 (Figs. 1, 3and 4 to 7), extending vertically through and traveling in alongitudinal slot, 39, formed in said barrel, 23, said fin havingrigidly secured thereto a curved cam plate, 40, adapted to engage thetree expanding bar, 43, and also to control the locking device, 11,thereof, as will be hereafter described. The rear end of the expanderrod, 43, with which each tree is provided has a disk, 42, the edge ofwhich projects into the path of the rear end of said plate, 41-0,whereby any rearward movement of said plate will cause like movement ofsaid disk and its tree expander bar. By providing a disk, as described,with its periphery or circumferential portion extending across the pathof said cam plate, 40, the tree may be rotated in its bearings at willand in any rotative position may be expanded without attention beingiven to the plane occupied by the tree foot as would be required were adepending arm or projection substituted.

To maintain the trees expanded, each is provided with a suitable lockingdevice herein shown as a spring controlled locking dog, 41, slidablymounted in a transverse bearing or socket, 44, formed in the rear end ofsaid tree barel, 10 (see Figs. 3 and 4). This looking dog, 41, has aslot, 45 (Fig. 3), to permit sald expander bar, 43, to slidetherethrough and the locking dog to move toward and from said bar. Atits upper side, said slot has a depending tooth, 46 (Fig. 4), to engagethe ratchet teeth, 47, formed upon the opposed edge of said expanderbar, said teeth being shaped to permit the bar to slide rearward freelyin expanding the tree but preventing movement in a reverse direction.The dog controlling spring, 48, is interposed between the bottom of saidsocket, 44, and the upper end of said dog, 41, and normally acts todepress the latter to engage or interlock with said ratchet teeth, 47,to prevent contraction of the tree. That the boot expanding device maybe released automatically, the locking dog, 41, is arranged to be slidoutwardly or upward (Fig. 1) as the arm or boot tree is swung or rotatedinto its upper position. To this end the lower end ofsaid dog, 41,projects below the barrel of the tree and is rounded to ride freely ontothe top of said cam plate, 40. The curve or active face of this plate iseccentric to the movement of the tree, or its shape is otherwise suchthat the dog is gradually lifted as the boot tree is swung to approachits upper position, until upon reaching said position the interlockingteeth of said dog and said rack are separated, thus permitting theretraction of the expander. This expander bar may be withdrawn to agreater or less extent to produce the desired expansion of thetree andthe boot or shoe mounted thereon, hence the disk, 42, on the end of saidbar will not always be moved into the same relative position, but thecam surface of said plate, 40, is extended forwardly to always be inposition to be engaged by the lower end of said dog, 41. The rear edgeof the cam plate will also, always be adjacent to and in the path ofsaid disk, causing the latter to engage the same, as it is moved uponcontract-ion of the tree by its springs, 49, 50. As herein shown (seeFig. 17) the rear edge of this cam plate is also curved laterally, sothat as each tree is moved into the given position in which it is to beexpanded or contracted, some portion of said curved edge will engage thedisk, 42, to move the latter to a central position on said edge. Thisarrangement, obviously, always maintains the disk and plate in the samerelative position one to another, so that one may be moved by the otherin effecting an expansion or contraction of said tree.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that a sudden collapse of theexpanded tree would tend to effect a distortion or rumpling of theexpanded and dressed surface of the shoe or boot and to injure the partsof the tree and its expanding devices. For preventing such collapse andthe results ensuing therefrom, I have in the present instance providedfor a gradual contraction of the tree, and to this end 1 haveconstituted the plunger, 22, referred to, a piston to cooperate with theend of its barrel to form a sort of dash pot to retard its movement asit approaches its forward limit, said plunger being moved by said disk,42, as the latter is drawn forward by the retracting springs of the boottree. As here shown (Figs. 4-7 the front end of this piston plunger, 22,is provided with a usual packing, 51, to effect an air tight joint withthe bearing surface of the said barrel, the slot, 39, in which the fin,38, moves not extending to this portion of the barrel. At its front endsaid barrel has an opening, 52, normally closed by the flap valve, 53,which is provided with a central vent, 54, to permit the gradual escapeof air therefrom. In practice, the movement of the locking dog torelease the tree permits the expander bar with its disk to springforward under the action of its controlling spring, said disk, however,immediately engaging said cam plate for subsequent movement togethersliding the piston plunger, 22, forward and causing or permitting the expander bar to thereafter move with it. As the piston plunger slides intothe closed portion of its barrel, 23, the flap valve, 53, closes saidopening, 52, and the air thereafter can only escape slowly through saidvent, 54, which is small enough to effectually retard the movements ofthe plunger and the ex pander bar, thus producing the desired or gradualcontraction of the boot tree. In expanding the tree, said flap valve,53, swings inwardl y to permit air to enter freely and without retardingthe rearward slide of said piston plunger, 22.

Having described the machine which is capable of use with any type oftree, I will now describe a form of tree comprising also a part of myinvention but which need not necessarily be used in connection with theparticular machine or support described. This tree is best shown inFigs. 47, illustrating one embodiment of my invention, said treecomprising an outwardly swinging back, 55, a longitudinally slidablefore part, 56, having a foot-piece, 57, removably secured thereto andthe stationary or inter mediate two part arm, 58, (Fig. 12), extendingforward from the journal or barrel, 10, of the tree and constituting aguide and support for the movable parts of said tree and its expandingmembers. This arm carries wing plates, 59 (Figs. 1 and 12), normallyextending or lapping over the adjacent sides of the fore part and backpiece to cover the opening between them, to direct their move ments inand out and to prevent displacement of the same. These wing plates aresecured to said guide arm by adjusting screws, 60, which can be turnedto spread or contract said plates to accommodate or adapt hem todifferent sizes and shapes of backs and feet. The edges of these platesor wings are suitably thinned at 61 to make a smooth surface around theboot. The fore part and back are respectively secured to slide plates ormembers, 63, 64, mounted to slide on the guide arm or support, 58. Theupper slide member, 63, is provided at a point slightly in advance ofthe hand wheel, (Fig. 4), with a central inwardly projecting verticallug, 65, centrally drilled to slidably receive the tree expanding bar,43, and constituting a guide therefor. For normally holding said forepart projected into an outer or forward position with its foot-piece,57, in front of the heel of said back, 55 (see Fig. 4), to permit a bootor shoe to be readily placed thereon or removed, the opposed ends of thefore part and barrel, of the tree, are socketed to receive the ends of acoil spring, 69, interposed between them. This spring operates to slideor project the movable fore part forward into the position indicated inFig. 4, but yields to permit the latter to be drawn to abut the barrel(Fig. 5) and the foot-piece to be alined with the heel, 67, before theexpansion of the back or foot-piece as will presently be shown. Thelower slide member, 64 (Figs. 4 and 11), is provided with a pair oflongitudinal slots, (Fig. 11), forming guideways to slidably receive apair of plates, 71, each of which, at its outer end, is provided with anupwardly extending vertical lug or projection, 72, centrally aperturedto receive and guide said expander bar, 43. This bar, 43, thus serves asa common guide for the upturned lugs, 72, on the slide plates, 71, andfor the depending lug, 65, of the slide member, 63, which last mentionedlug stands between said upturned lugs. Surrounding said bar, 43, betweensaid lug, 65, and the upturned lugs, 72, of the leading slide plate, 71,and seated against said lugs is a coil spring, 50, which tends toseparate said lugs and their respective members. Also surrounding saidbar, but between the other of said upturned lugs, 72, and a pin, 76, onsaid bar adjacent said lug, 65, is a second spring, 49. These springsgovern the movements of the upper and lower slide members and alsooperate to retract the expander bar, 43, after it has been withdrawn inexpanding the tree. To adjust the tensions of these springs the plates,71, are provided at their opposite or inner ends with similar butdepending lugs, 73 (Fig. 4), having threaded openings to receive thethreaded ends of a differential screw, 74 (Fig. 4), rotatably mounted ina depending lug, 75, of said lower slide member, 64. By the rotation ofthis screw, said plates, 71, may be moved or adjusted toward or from oneanother more or less to compress or tension said springs, 49, 50, asrequired. The lower slide member at a point immediately in front of thelug, 65, has a stop, 77, which engages at a predetermined time with saidlug, 65, which has already been moved away from said stop at an earlierpoint in the operation of the machine, and limits further movementthereof. In the returning or forward movement of said parts, said stop,77, is returned by said lug, 65, as the latter is engaged by said pin,76, when the expansion bar, 43, is released and removed by its spring,49. By this arrangement said slide bars, 63, 64, will be moved forwardto operate the foot-piece and back in contracting the tree as presentlydescribed. Before giving a detailed description, however, of theoperation of the expander bar, 43, its slide bars, 63, 64, and itscontrolling springs, 49, 50, it will be advantageous to describe theconstruction and movements of the back and foot-piece in the orderstated.

At its point of connection with the barrel, 10, the back, 55, isprovided with a hook plate, 78 (Figs. 47) adapted to interlock with thehook of a spring pressed member, 79, slidably and yieldingly mounted ona pair of guide and holding pins, 80, S1, tapped into the back of thebarrel, 10, the pin, 80, being surrounded by a coil spring, 82,interposed between the outer face of said member, 79, and a nut, 83, onsaid pin, so that the tension of the spring may be adjusted as desiredthereby to provide a yielding pivot for said back. This constructionpermits the back to be swung toward and from the fore part to contractand expand the tree, and is similar to that usually employed in trees ofthis type, hence needs no further description.

To separate the back from the fore part in expanding the tree, thefollowing mechanism is provided: The front end of the lower slidemember, 64, is provided (see Fig. 13) with a slot in which a movableplate, 84, is arranged to reciprocate, the length of the slot exceedingthat of the engaged part of said plate to permit of a considerable lostmovement of the member, 64, in either direction before imparting anymovement to said plate, 84. Suitable retaining and stop plates, 122,121, being respectively provided at the front end of said member, 64,and the rear end of the plate, 84, to limit and guide the movement ofthe latter and to cause it to move with said member at a predeterminedtime, regulated by the length of said slot and the position of said stopplates. In the venting withdrawal of expander bar, 48, and said lowerslide, 64, the movable plate, 84:, first remains stationary by itsengagement with the heel of the back, 55, Jresently described in detail,until said plate is in its forward position, when the action of saidstop plates, 121, 122, will cause said plate, 8 1, to move with saidexpander bar and its lower slide, 6 1. The two parts, 58, of thesupporting arm, see Fig. 16, are provided at the lower inner cornerswith ways, 123, in which slides the movable plate, 84, referred to, andprevertical elevation thereof. The outer end of this plate, 84, carriesa depending arm, 85, upon which is pivotally mounted a. suitable backswinging device, comprising a slide piece shown as a short plug, 87,moving in an obliquely arranged sleeve or thimble, 88, inserted in arecess, 86, in the heel of said back said thimble having a slit, 89,along its upper inclined edge to permit said arm, 85, to move therein.As said movable plate, 8 1, is drawn rearwardly the movement of saidplug, 87, up the inclined thimble, 88, will by its wedge or cam action,cause the back to swing downwardly about its pivot, 7 9 (Fig. 6), thepivotal connection, 90 of said plug, 87, permitting it to adapt itselfto the varying inclination of the thimble or sleeve in which it slides.When moved in the reverse direction the cylinder positively raises theheel end of the back into its normally horizontal position, this movement being aided by the action of said spring, 82. The movable plate, 81, of course is reclprocated by the movements of the expander bar, 43,the provision for lost motion causing the heel to be expanded at apredetermined and later time than some of the other expansion movementsas will be best understood in describing the operation of said springs,49, 50, and of the machine.

An important feaure of my invention resides in the novel construction ofthe footpiece, the means by which it is attached to the leg or forepart, and the peculiar expanding movement therefor, all of which willnow be described. As herein shown, the front of said fore part, 56(Figs. 4 and 8) has a recess or slot, 91, opening at the back and bottomof said foot-piece to receive the rear end of a curved foot carryingmember, 93, said end being rigidly secured as by brazing to the frontend of the upper slide member, 63, so as to be moved thereby and withthe fore part. The cross section of this carrying member, for thegreater portion of its length, has the shape of an inverted U, thebottom edges, 91, of the inner portions of its sides being horizontaland being guided in the reciprocation of said footpiece by a crossplate, 95 (Fig. t), between the front ends of said guides, 58. The frontend of this foot carrying member is curved upwardly (Figs. 8 and 9) oris bent transversely to extend toward the toe portion of said foot-piececonstituting a natural support therefor and to facilitate sliding thefoot-piece thereon, the longitudinal groove, 91, being of converse shapeto receive said carrying member. For locking the footpiece in position,it has at one side a spring pressed latch or locking device, 96 (Fig.9), mounted in a transverse recess or socket, 97 therein and providedwith an inwardly extending tooth, 98, to enter an opening or aperture,99, in the sides of said carrying member. At one side of this latchingdevice is a recess, 100, to embrace the upper edge of said carryingmember and to permit said latch to be moved into and out of lookingengagement therewith. The latch or locking device slides in a thimble,102, and has a stem, 101, extending through an opening in the end ofsaid thimble, a coil spring, 103, surrounding said stem and interposedbetween said thimble end and a push button or plate, 104, at the side ofthe foot-piece, operating to move the tooth, 98, normally into theaperture, 99, of said retaining member to hold the foot in place. At itsouter end said thimble is provided with inwardly turned edges forretaining said button, 104,

in place, the latter forming the seat for said spring and being adaptedto be pushed by the finger to unlock the foot-piece in removing thelatter. The upward curve of the foot carrying member (see Figs. 8 and 9)approximates closely to the normal curve of the fore part or instepportion of the footpiece which is itself provided with a converselyshaped longitudinal groove by which it naturally enters and slides uponits retaining member, 93. By this construction the foot-piece has anatural movement, both in being applied to and removed from itsretaining member. Furthermore the locking device being arranged at theside of the footpiece it is easy of access to the thumb or fore fingerof the operative and may be operated by a natural movement in graspingthe footpiece to remove it from or apply it to said retaining member.

Reference has already been made to the fact that the foot is providedwith a novel expanding movement. This movement is secured by providingfor a transverse movement of the sole portion of the tree foot, which ashere shown is a plate, 105 (Fig. 10), removably attached by means ofinwardly extending spring fingers, 106 (Figs.

4t and 10), secured to its back, to a wedge shaped block, 108, groovedas at 107 (Fig. 8), to receive said fingers and pivoted at 108*, on theend of the vertical arm of a curved actuating lever, 109 (Fig. 4),pivoted in the foot carrying member at 109*, located within the body ofor above the bottom of the foot-piece and by which said sole portion orplate is moved in and out relative to and to vary the thickness of thebody of the foot-piece. The other or horizontal arm of this lever (seeFig. 4) is nor mally held depressed by a spring, 109 (Fig. 4) secured tosaid foot carrying member, 93, and interposed between the latter andsaid arm and by its action on the latter, holding said sole plate, 105,normally flush with the bottom of the foot-piece, which has a transverserecess shaped to receive said sole plate. The horizontal lever arm has adownwardly curved end, 110 (Fig. 4), which enters a slot or recess, 111(Figs. 4 and 15), in a controlling member, 112, slid ably and yieldinglymounted on and at the front end of said expander bar, 43. The rear endof this controlling member (Fig. 15) is adapted to slide in the forkedend, 113, of the expander bar, 43. For yieldingly connecting this memberwith said bar, the former has a collar, 114, which surrounds said memberand forms the seat for one end of a coil spring, 115, surrounding saidbar, 43, with its opposite end bearing against a similar collar, 116,secured to the rear end of saidbar and acting normally to slide saidmember, 112, into its forward or outer position. To prevent said memberfrom turnlng, guide or cross pins, 117 118, are employed, both securedto said bar, 43, said pin, 117 also constituting a stop to limit theforward slide of said member, 112. Said member, 112, has a longitudinalslot, 119 (Fig. 4), to permit it and said bar to slide one relative tothe other. As the expander bar, 43, is withdrawn in expanding the tree,this sole expanding member, 112, will move with it through the spring,115, between them, a cross plate or projection, 120, at the front end ofsaid member acting at a predetermined time upon the curved end of theactuating lever, 109, to elevate the latter and move the sole plate,105, to the left as shown in Fig. 7, out from the body of the foot-pieceto fill the fore part of the shoe thereby to stretch the leather of thetoe upper taut over the foot of the tree so that its surface may beconveniently presented for rubbing or dressing. The outward bodilymovement of this plate being transverse or perpendicular to the soleface it obviously thickens the toe of the foot or that of a boot or shoemounted thereon, hence it constitutes a sole thickening member for saidfoot, the term thickening being defined as that which increases thedimension of the foot in a direction perpendicular to the sole face. Theamount of expansion produced is regulated by the tension of the coilspring, 115. This spring gradually yields as the sole plate, 105, isforced into positive contact with the inner soles of the different shoesor boots but still maintains sufficient pressure to produce the desiredexpansion while preventing injury thereto, thus providing for a veryefficient method of expanding the foot.

I will now describe the relative movements of the expander bar, itsslide members and the operating or retracting springs carried therebywhich cause the respective movements of the foot, the back, and the soleplate, referred to.

The principal spring that governs or regulates the operation of theexpanding devices is spring, 49, already referred to, and which as hereshown (see Figs. 44), is not only of shorter length but is heavier, thanthe others, so that it overcomes their opposed force and causes theircontraction prior to its own contraction, during the continuous movementof said expander bar, 43. As this bar is withdrawn by the depression ofthe t-readle, the spring, 49, causes the upper and lower slide membersto move with it, the fore part spring, 69, yielding to permit the forepart to move rearwardly against the barrel 10, and to bring the foothome. In reaching this position, obviously, further rearward motion ofsaid slide member, 03, is prevented. During this movement the heelremains unmoved, because of the lost motion between the lower slidemember, (54, and the movable slide plate, 84, which carries the backexpanding plug, 87, until said slide plate has been moved into itsextended position (Fig. Vith the lost motion taken up, furtherwithdrawal of the ex pander bar will then cause it to slide through theguide lug, 65, and to compress said spring, 50, which being weaker orlighter than the main spring, 49, readily yields to permit furtherrearward motion of the lower slide member and the adjusting platesagainst the lugs of which said springs are seated. By this movement themovable plate, 84, being at the forward limit of its position upon saidlower member, 64, is compelled to move rearwardly with the latter, theback actuating plug, 87, sliding up the inclined thimble in the heelportion of said back and causing it to swing downwardly into theposition shown in Fig. 6. By the inward movement of the foot justdescribed a boot or shoe mounted thereon will be expanded onlyincidentally due if at all to the passage of the upper over and aboutthe heel portion of the back in the direction from toe to heel as thefoot is driven home, but a greater expansion in the same direction isproduced by the subsequent movements or separation of the back. Duringthis rearward motion of the expander bar, 43, and that of the lowerslide member, 64, lost motion takes place between the slotted sole controlling member, 112, and the curved end of the foot actuating lever,109. As the controlling member is slid into its inner or rear position,its rear cross plate, 120, meets the curved end, 110, of said lever,109, and lifts it to swing its vertical arm forward or outward more orless, into a position indicated by F ig. 7, or when a shoe is mounted onsaid foot until it has moved sufficiently to expand the toe portion ofthe shoe in a d1- rection transversely to the length and width of thesole perpendicular to the sole face. To make this a yielding movementthereby to avoid the danger of rupturing the shoe or breaking thestitches as when a positive movement is employed, said expander bar andits controlling member are yieldingly connected by the spring, 115, asdescribed, which yields to permit of lost motion between the two whilestill exerting suflicient pressure upon said sole plate, 105, to producethe required amount of expansion. Obviously the spring, 115, may bereplaced by one of different strength or said collars, 114 and 116, maybe adjusted toward or from one another, so that the expansive forceapplied or pressure produced by said spring may be varied within widelimits. In like manner the expansive force applied to the back may bevaried by suitable springs of different weights or power for saidsprings, 49 and 50, or by the adjustment provided by the sliding plates,71, and their adjusting screw, 74.

By providing the expanding mechanism with yielding members and springsto act as described, adequate provision is made to prevent unduestretching of the leatherof the boot or shoe operated upon, an importantfeature being that the movable parts or expanding members, viz., theback and sole plate, have their motions limited by engagement with theparts of the boot or shoe, or to express it differently, the expansionis governed by the work. If, however, as may frequently be the case thesprings are not needed they may be omitted and the successive movementsobtained by positive contact of the parts one with another.

In releaslng the expander bar, 48, a reverse operation to that alreadydescribed takes place, the sole plate, 105, being first moved into itsinner or rear position partly by the action of the leaf spring, 109, andby the engagement of the curved end of said lever with said controllingmember, 112, as the latter is projected into its outer position by theexpansion of said spring, 49, and best shown in Fig. 4. Immediatelyfollowing this movement of the sole plate, 105, the expander bar, 43, byits continued movement, produced principally by the expansion of saidspring, 49, and the engagement of its cross pin, 7 6, with the guidelug, 65, and of the latter with the lower slide stop, 77, moves theslide member, 64, forward until said movable plate, 84, is in its rearposition and causing their further movement together. This movement ofthe plate, 84, elevates the back by the wedge action effected bytheslide of said plug or cylinder, 87, in the inclined thimble in theheel of said back. The final movement in the contraction of the tree isthe forward slide of the foot and fore part which is effected by theexpansion of said spring, 69, projecting said foot into the positionindicated in Fig. 4. The inward movement of the foot is effected by atreadle means under the control of the operative and which is adapted byits continuous movement to also expand the tree with as much force asmay be desired, the contraction of which and the upward movement of saidfoot being produced automatically. By this arrangement of a foot whichis automatically projected out from and drawn back into engagement withthe leg or barrel of the tree in, respectively contracting and expandingthe same a result is efiected which so far as I am aware, I believe tobe new and novel. This construction results in a considerable saving ofthe operators time and a reduction in the expense of treeing.

In practice the machine is operated as follows: The parts of the treebeing in the position indicated by Fig. 4, the operative places the bootor shoe upon the foot-piece and then draws it down over the foot-piece.He then depresses the treadle of the machine, which first causes thefoot-piece and shoe to be drawn rearwardly the operative directing thecounter of the shoe under the heel piece, 67, as the footpiece is alinedtherewith, thus positively seating the shoe on said foot. By continuedmovement of the treadle the back is then swung outwardly causing afurther and considerable expansion of the tree in a direction from toeto heel, and immediately thereafter the sole plate is thrown out asdescribed to increase the depth of the toe of the boot, all the partspreferably operating yieldingly as referred to, to prevent unnecessaryor injurious straining and avoiding any tendency to break the stitchesof the boot or shoe. An important feature of my invention is theprovision for adapting the expansion to the requirements of the work orto the particular boot or shoe operated upon, the back and the soleplate being moved by yielding means to produce an efficient expansionupon the shoe, but yielding when sufficient pressure isproduced and bythe engagement or cont-act of said parts upon the boot or shoe, so thatinjurious results are prevented. As the tree is thus expanded thelocking dog, 41, locks it in expanded condition and under any desiredamount of expansion while the spring pressed locking pin, 16, retainsthe frame with the boot tree in an upper and convenient position fortreeing, dressing or otherwise finishing the surface of the boot orshoe. By means of the hand wheel the boot tree may be rotated tofacilitate said operation, presenting each portion of the surface of theboot into a desired position in which it may be conveniently operatedupon. Atthe completion of the treeing and finishing operation, thecarrying frame may be rotated freely to swing the boot tree into itslower position and to bring the lower tree into the upper position toreceive a boot or shoe to be likewise treed, dressed and finished or forremoval of one previously treed and to be replaced by a new one. Thesubsequent operations will be repetitions of what have just beendescribed, the finished and dried boot or shoe being removedsubsequently to the release of the expanding mechanism as the tree ismoved into its upper position. The gradual contraction of the tree whichis provided for by the employment of the dash pot prevents any materialdistortion or other defective action upon the dressed surface of theboot or shoe, the extended position into which the footis projectedfacilitating its removal.

YVhile I have described a specific construction of boot tree which" ispreferably employed in connection with the .carrying frame and theactuating devices mounted upon the head of the machine, obviously anysuitable boot tree may be employed, my invention not being limited inthis respect.

By my invention, as herein described, a simple and efficient boottreeing machine is provided which is easily operated and which requiresbut little attention, no work being required of the operative other thanto depress the treadle and to swing the tree into its upper position andto apply and remove the shoe or work therefrom, positioning of the footand separating it from the tree being produced automatically. Thetreeing is produced by a single and continuous depression of thetreadle, thus avoiding the necessity for the additional time and laborrequired to move said foot into and out of position as in machineshitherto constructed.

The independent locking mechanism of each tree operates automaticallyand is automatically released. By the employment of suitable means forautomatically moving the foot and for producing a gradual and automaticcontraction of the expanded tree, results are attained which so far as Iam aware are new and novel, as is also the plurality of independentmeans for guarding against or preventing unnecessary stretching of theshoe.

My invention is not limited to the specific details of construction orto the precise arrangement of parts herein shown for purposes ofillustration only, and it is obvious that either may be modified andvaried within wide limits without departing from the spirit or scope ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A boot tree foot piece, means for supporting said foot piece duringthe finishing operation and from which the foot piece is removable, afoot thickening sole member, and means for giving said sole member abodily movement with respect to the sup ported foot piece to cause theupper to conform to the shape of the foot piece and prepare it for thefinishing operation.

2. A boot tree foot piece having an uninterrupted fore part uppersupporting surface, means for supporting said foot piece during thetreeing or finishing operation and from which the foot piece isremovable, a foot thickening fore part sole member, and means for movingthe sole member bodily from the supported foot piece to cause the upperto conform to the shape of the uninterrupted supporting surface of thefoot piece.

3. A boot tree foot-piece having a foot thickening sole memberconstructed and arranged with reference to the foot-piece to present itsbottom surface within the plane of the sole line, a support connected tosaid foot-pieee to sustain the same, and yield ingly acting means formoving said sole member bodily relative to the said foot-piece to drawthe fore part of the upper into shaping contact with the fore part ofthe tree.

4. A boot tree foot piece having a foot thickening sole member, andyielding means for giving said sole member bodily 1n ovement ofseparation from the foot piece and against the sole of a shoe mountedthereon to draw the fore part of the upper with a yielding action intouniform shaping contact with the tree fore part.

5. A boot tree foot-piece having a foot thickening sole member, yieldingmeans for giving said sole member bodily movement of separation from thetree foot-piece and against the sole of a shoe mounted thereon to drawthe fore part of the upper into uniform shaping contact with the treefore part, and provisions for adjusting the yielding character of saidmeans.

6. A boot tree foot-piece, comprising a fore part, a fore part solemember, a support within the fore part on which the sole member ismounted, and means for moving said support to impart to the fore partsole member bodily movement of separation from the foot-piece fore partto draw the upper uniformly to the upper surface of the tree foot.

7. In a boot treeing machine, a foot piece movable to and from treeingposition and comprising a fore part and a sole expanding member, andmeans for moving the foot piece into position and to separate the forepart and sole member to cause the upper of a shoe to conform to thesurface of the fore part.

8. A boot treeing machine comprising a foot piece, a foot piece supportto sustain the foot piece during the finishing operation, a soleexpanding member, and means for moving the foot piece into position andto separate the foot piece and sole expanding member.

9. In a boot treeing machine, a movable foot-piece comprising athickening fore part member, a support for said foot-piece, and meansfor moving said foot-piece and actugting said fore part member to expandsaid oot.

10. In a boot treeing machine, a tree leg, a movable foot-piece having afoot thickening sole member movable with the foot-piece toward and fromthe tree leg, and means for bodily moving the sole member toward andfrom the foot-piece.

11. In a boot treeing machine, an expansible foot comprising afoot-piece having an uninterrupted upper supporting surface to sustainthe upper during the finishing operation, a foot thickening fore partmember, and means to bodily move it from a position within to a positionbeyond the plane of the sole line to expand said foot and draw the forepart of the upper into finishing contact wlth the fore part of the foot.

12. In a boot treeing machine, a foot-piece having a foot thickeningsole member, means to move the foot-piece and thickening sole membertoward and from the tree leg, means for bodily moving the thickeningsole member toward and from the foot-piece, and provisions to permitrotative movement of the foot.

13. In a boot treeing machine, a slidingleg front part, a foot-piecebodily movable into and out of position, a movable heel, and means forbodily moving said foot-piece and leg front part into position and formoving said heel to expand the tree.

14. A boot treeing machine comprising an expansible foot-piece movableinto and out of position, a movable back, and means for moving saidfoot-piece into position and for imparting expanding movement to saidback and foot-piece.

15. In a boot treeing machine, an expansible foot-piece movable into andout of position, a movable back, and treadle means adapted by acontinuous movement to move said foot-piece into position to move saidback and to expand said foot-piece.

16. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree comprising a foot support, afoot sustained thereby and having a fore part and sole memberconstructed and arranged for bodily separation at the sole line in adirection transversely to said sole to uniformly draw the fore part ofthe upper to the shape of the foot fore part, and treadle means forseparating the same to expand said foot.

17. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree comprising a foot support, afoot sustained thereby and having a fore part and sole constructed andarranged for bodily separation at the bottom of the fore part in adirection perpendicular to the sole face and yielding means forseparating them to expand said foot within limits imposed by a boot orshoe operated upon.

18. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a longitudinallyslidable foot-piece comprising a fore part and sole constructed andarranged for separation and a treadle and connections adapted by acontinuous movement of said treadle to move said footpiece and separatesaid fore part and sole to expand said foot-piece.

19. In a treeing machine, a detachable foot-piece having a continuousgroove extending along the back and toward the toe thereof, and a footcarrying member having a portion constructed and arranged to extendalong the groove in the back of said foot-piece and another portion toextend into the groove of the foot portion toward the toe.

20. A foot-piece for a boot tree having a groove extending from the topof the ankle portion of said foot-piece along the back, and beingprojected along the sole portion of the foot-piece toward the toe.

21. A foot-piece for a boot tree having extending inward from the backand sole surfaces a groove, the bottom of which follows substantiallythe direction of the median top surface of the foot.

22. A foot-piece for a boot tree having a portion of its sole surfacecountersunk, and provided with a groove extending along the back andtoward the toe.

23. In a device of the general character described, a detachablefootmember having a groove extending inwardly along the back and solesurfaces toward the toe, and means constructed and arranged to engagesaid groove to support the said foot.

24:. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having an expansiblefoot-piece movable into and out of position and a movable back, meansfor moving said foot-piece, for subsequently expanding the same, andeffecting a movement of said back.

25. In a boot treein machine, a boot tree having a longitudianIlyslidable foot-piece comprising a separable fore part and sole and meansfor sliding said foot-piece and to yieldingly separate the parts thereofto adapt the expansion produced thereby to the requirements of the work.

26. In a machine of the type described, a boot tree having a fore partand sole element constructed and arranged for separation in a directiontransversely to said sole, and means for bodily separating them at theplane of the sole line to expand the fore part of the foot of a boot orshoe mounted on said tree and means for eifecting a gradual contractionof said tree.

27. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a longitudinallymovable foot-piece comprising a separable fore part and sole, means formoving said foot-piece and for subsequently separating the parts thereofto expand said foot.

28. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a longitudinallymovable foot-piece comprising a fore part and sole constructed andarranged for separation in the same direction, a movable back, and meansfor moving said foot-piece and back and separating the parts of saidfoot-piece to expand the same subsequently to the movements of saidfoot-piece and back.

29. A boot treeing machine comprising in combination a foot having aseparable fore part and sole, means for separating them to expand saidfoot, a locking device for holding them separated, and means forreleasing said locking device.

30. In a machine of the type described, the combination of a boot treecomprising the following members, a foot having a foot thickening memberbodily movable with respect to the foot, a movable back piece, means forproducing relative motion between said members to expand the tree and tothereafter effect a gradual contraction thereof.

31. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree comprising a foot having afoot thickening sole member constructed and arranged to present itsouter surface within the plane of the sole line, and yielding means forbodily separating the foot and foot thickening member.

32. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree comprising a foot having aseparable fore part and sole, and yielding means for bodily moving thesole outwardly from the fore part.

33. In a boot treeing machine, an expansible boot tree provided withseparable sole and heel parts and spring controlled operating meansarranged to effect relative movement of said parts, one subsequent tothe other, and means for adjusting said springs to vary the tension orexpansive force produced thereby in operating said parts.

34. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a movable foot-pieceand back means for moving said foot-piece and for subsequently impartingexpanding movements to said back and foot one relative to the other.

35. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a movable foot-piececomprising a separable fore part and sole, a back, means for moving saidfoot-piece, back, and said fore part and sole to effect, first, amovement "of said foot-piece, second, a movement of said back, and,finally, of said fore part and sole, one relative to the other, therebyto expand said tree.

36. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree having a movable foot-piececomprising a separable fore part and sole, a back and means for movingsaid foot-piece and for producing a movement of said back relativethereto and for separating said fore part and sole, said means havingprovisions for lost motion to effect, first, a movement of saidfoot-piece, second, a movement of said back, and, finally, a relativemovement between said fore part and sole.

37. A boot treeing machine of the type described comprising incombination a boot tree having a movable foot-piece provided with amovable sole, and a movable back, and treadle means adapted by acontinuous movement to move said foot-piece and to impart expandingmovements to said back and sole to expand said tree.

38. A boot treeing machine of the type described comprising incombination a boot tree having a movable foot-piece provided with amovable sole, and a movable back, and means operating to move saidfootpiece and to impart expanding movements to said back and sole in theorder named to expand said tree.

89. A boot treeing machine of the type described comprising incombination a boot tree having a movable foot-piece provided with amovable sole, and a movable back, and means operating yieldingly to movesaid foot-piece and to impart expanding movements to said back and solein the order named to expand said tree and to prevent undue stretchingof the leather of the boot or shoe operated upon.

40. A boot treeing machine of the type described comprising incombination a foot having a foot thickenin sole member bodily movablefrom the sole line of the foot, means for yieldingly producing relativebodily motion between said parts to expand said boot or shoe withinlimits imposed by the boot or shoe operated upon thereby to preventundue stretching of the leather of said boot or shoe, and actuatingmechanism for operating said expanding means to move said parts thedesired amount, said movement being variable.

41. A boot treeing machine of the type described, comprising incombination a boot tree having a movable foot-piece a movable back, andmeans yieldingly to move said foot-piece and to produce a subsequentmotion of said back to expand the tree, and to prevent undue stretchingof the leather, said means being governed by the contact of saidfoot-piece and back with the boot or shoe operated upon.

42. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree foot, a support therefor tosustain the foot and shoe placed thereon during the finishing operation,a foot thickening sole member, a support for said sole member within thefoot and on which the sole memher is articulated to enable it to conformto the shape of the sole of a boot or shoe being treated, and means formoving the support in a direction toward and from the sole.

43. In a boot treeing machine, a boot tree foot, a foot thickening solemember, a support for said sole member on which it is articulated toconform to the shape of the sole of the boot or shoe being treated, andyielding means for moving the support in a direction toward and from thesole.

4A. In a boot treeing machine, a tree foot, a foot carrying andsupporting member therefor extending into said foot to sustain the sameand the shoe thereon during the finishing operation, a foot thickeningsole member, an independent support therefor, and means for moving saidsupport to bodily separate the tree foot and sole member.

45. In a device of the character described, the combination of a legportion, a footpiece having a bodily movable sole expanding member, aheel portion, and a slide for operating the sole expanding member andthe heel portion in expanding the tree.

4L6. A. boot tree foot piece, means for supporting it during thefinishing operation, a foot enlarging sole member supportedindependently of the foot piece, and means for bodily separating thefoot piece and sole member to cause the upper to conform to the shape ofthe foot piece.

4:7. A boot tree foot piece, means for supporting the foot piece duringthe finishing operation, a foot enlarging sole member supportedindependently of the foot piece, and means independent of the foot piecefor bodily moving the sole member from the foot piece to cause the shoeupper to conform to the foot piece.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HOOPER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. TIRRELL, SIDNEY F. SMITH.

